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Scientists think glow-worm populations are falling due to light pollution from street lights.

The small critters are actually a type of beetle, and use the glowing light on their bottoms to attract others.

Zoologists have found artificial white light, like the glare from street lights, is having a devastating affect on glow-worms.

They're declining and disappearing in the UK and around the world as they struggle to find each other, mate and create new baby glow-worms.

What are glow-worms?

Glow-worms are small beetles usually found living under rocks. They can be found in grasslands, woodlands and even your garden too!

They're nocturnal - which means they stay up through the night. Male glow-worms look like typical beetles, but the females look more like larvae and emit a bright green light at night.

The female glow-worms climb up plant stems and glow. This gets the attention of the male glow-worms, who's eyes are attracted to their green glowing light.

But experts think that glow-worm numbers are falling.

Why are street lights affecting them?

Glow-worms rely on their glowing light to attract each other to mate. But street lights and light pollution caused by non-natural light makes the glow from the creatures weaker and less visible to each other.

Researchers conducted a test using a maze in a lab to see how much artificial light gets in the way of male glow-worms finding their female friends. In darkness, 70% are drawn to the green light of a female glow-worm.

When the "street lights" were turned on, only 21% found their way to the glowing light. The male glow-worms were confused by the bright white light and used a shield on their head to protect their eyes, like sunglasses.

Researchers are hoping their work will help them to understand how to protect the glow-worm species, without needing to turn off all the lights.